Trolley duct



' Dec. 15, 1942. J JACKSON HAL 2 304,924

TROLLEY DUCT Filed Dec. 16, 193 5 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 ni 2 A O O E 4 IO 0 "Y c [N V EN TOR.

John GJackson BY Ralph H. Kingdom ATTQRNEY 1 J. G. JACKSON ETAL 2,304,924

TROLLEY DUCT Filed Dec. 16, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

A TTORNE Y.

. dohfi GJackson BY 'r gg Dec. 15, 1942. JACKSQN AL 2,304,924

TROLLEY DUCT Filed D90. 16, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 gl. wm E- Q.

dohn GJackson l BY Eqlp'h H. Kmgd on ATTVORNEY 1942- J. cs. JACKSON EI'AL 2,304,924

TROLLEY DUCT Filed Dec. 16, 19:55 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 vggssl/ls n A! I I I INVENTOR.

John G.Jakson BY Ral h HKmgdon Patented Dec. 15, 1942 v TROLLEY noc'r John G. Jackson and Ralph n. Kingdon, Detroit, Mich., assig'nors to Square D Company, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application December 16, 1935, Serial No. 54,554

11 Claims.

This invention relates to electric current distribution systems and more particularly to eleca trolley duct having improved restraining means for limiting undesired movement of the current collector trolley- Another object of this invention is to provide a current collector trolley having a plurality of rollers with means for equalizing the contact pressure on the rollers.

Another object of this invention is to provide a current collector trolley with a cover or guard plate separating the carriage from the trolley conductors.

Other objects and features of the invention will be readilyapparent to those skilled in the art from the following specification and appended drawings illustrating certain preferred embodiments of the invention in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a straight and curved portion of the trolley duct system.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of a portion of the trolley duct system.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line III1II of Figure l.

Figure 4 is a detailed view showing the method of joining the sections together.

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line V--V of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a top plan view of the trolley shown in Figure 5 with portions of the cover broken away to show internal parts.

Figure 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line VI-VI of Figure 5.

Figure 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line VIII-VIII of Figure 2.

Figure 9 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line IX-IX of Figure 1 showing the trolley in position within a duct.

Figure 10 is a top plan view of a trolley according to the present invention.

Figure 11 is a detailed sectional view on the line XL-XI of Figure 10.

Figure 12 is a sectional view on the line XII- described.

XII of-Figure 9 with certain parts broken away.

Figure 13 is a reduced detailed view of the fused switching unit shown in Figure 12.

Figures 14 and 15 are side elevational views showing means for connecting to or leading from the-bus bar within the duct from an intermediate and end position respectively.

The trolley duct system illustrated comprises a. plurality of straight and curved duct sections forming a current source extending along a predetermined path along which it is desired to abstract power for a tool or other movable translating device. In Figure 1 is shown a straight section I and a plurality of curved sections 2 and 3. The curved sections 2 and 3 are similar to the straight section with the exception of the plurality of reinforcing angles Send the detailed construction of the plates forming the enclosing duct.

Each of the straight sections is formed of an upper inverted U-shaped angle member 6 having welded thereto depending L-shaped members I and 8 forming a substantially enclosed duct having a longitudinal slot in its bottom wall. Three bus bars 9, l I and I2 are rigidly secured to a plurality of spaced insulating blocks l3 by means of studs M which are countersunk in the back of the block and threaded into the bus bars short of their exposed surfaces so as to avoid interference with the contact rollers. The heads of the bolts M may be then waxed in place so as to provide insulation. The blocks l3 are rigidly secured to the undersurface of the U-shaped member 6 as by means of studs i5. These studs are insulated from the current carrying parts within the duct and may be secured directly into the top of the duct. The fibre plate l6 may be placed between the block l3 and the top of the duct to provide additional insulation from the studs M if desired although if properly countersunk the waxing of these heads will be suflicient to provide this insulation. The exposed surfaces of the block I3 are preferably notched as at I! to increase the leakage resistance in the path between the buses.

L-shaped strips l8 and 19 are preferably welded to the inner walls of the duct in spaced relation to the base of the L-shaped members I and 8 so as to provide a limiting surface preventing upward movement of the supporting wheels of the trolley in a manner to be hereinafter At the ends of the duct sections are rigidly secured angle brackets 2| providing outward flanges 22 for connecting the sections together and to a supporting member. This supporting member takes the form of a U-shaped plate 23 having an elongated base to which may be bolted a structural supporting member 24 and having openings receiving the hooks of turn-buckle guyrods 25 for strengthening and rigidifying the duct supports. This plate 23 takes the form of two complementary sections rigidly welded together to form the plate. The legs of the U forming the plate are provided with openings which cooperate with the openings in the flanges 22 to receive the tightening bolts 26. These legs are also provided with oppositely tapered openings in which, before the welding operation, are disposed oppositely tapered or double ended conical dowels 21. After the welding operation these dowels are securely attached to the resulting plate 23. The joining of the sections together prior to the tightening is shown in Figure 4. As the nuts on the bolts 25 are drawn up, the ends of the dowels 21 enter appropriate openings in the flanges 22 and thus positively align the cooperating ends of the sections and provide proper joining for smooth movement of the trolley therethrough.

For insertion and removal of a trolley from within the duct, the gate 4 is provided. The bases of the L-shaped members i and 8 are cut away for a length sufficient to pass the trolley through the resulting opening and the gate 4 is a generally c-shaped structure carrying trackways adapted to replace the cutaway portions to provide a smooth track for the trolley. The gate 5 is shown in Figure 2 and in cross-section in Figure 8 but no detail description of this gate is herein made as it forms no part of the invention claimed in this application but constitutes the subject matter of a copending application of Ralph H. Kingdon, Serial No. 54,213, filed December 13, 1935, for Trolley duct gate; now Patent No. 2,148,237, granted February 21, 1939.

The top of the duct section adjacent to each end is cut away to provide for connection of the buses and/or of current lead-in and take-off connection to the buses. One manner of covering these openings is by the use of small hoods 28 secured in place by nuts 29 threaded on the ends of those of the studs I5 which are disposed adjacent to the ends of the duct sections. structure is shown in detail in Figure 5 which in conjunction with Figure 6 more particularly illustrates the manner of connecting the ends of the bus bar sections together. The ends of these sections are provided with a pair of threaded holes and a conducting piece 3| having four similarly spaced holes therein is rigidly bolted to both the cooperating ends of the two bus bar sections by the bolts 32. This serves to electrically and mechanically connect the bus bars to--' gether and, as the bolts 32 have a smaller length than the combined thickness of the bus bar and connecting strip, the interior surface of the bus bar is left smooth.

The trolley according to the present invention, as more particularly shown in Figures 9 to 12 inclusive, includes a rigid supporting portion 4iv carried on ball bearing rollers which run on the trackways formed'by the bases of the L-shaped members I and 8. On the portion 4| are rigidly mounted spaced U-shaped brackets d3 which extend through the slot at the bottom wall of the duct. A U-shaped bracket 44 is rigidly connected to the brackets 43 and has a hollow cylindrical pipe or column 45 rigidly secured thereon. The column 45 extends above the member 4| and. is

This

provided adjacent its upper end with an outturned flange 45. An insulating platform 4'l is floatingly supported by member 4|. This platform has an opening receiving the column 45 in slldable relation and is maintained against the flange 46 by means of a plurality of springs 48 positioned intermediate the member 4| and the platform 41 and adjacent the corners of the platform. Upon the upper surface of the platform ll are mounted three *U-shaped angle brackets 49, one of which is disposed adjacent one end of the platform and centrally thereof with the other two disposed adjacent the sides of the platform and near its opposite end. Within each of these angle brackets is journaled a ball bearing collector wheel 5|. The wheels 5| as well as the wheels 42 are provided with dust guards 52 more particularly shown in Figure 11. Due to the position of the rollers 5| in V-formation, a conventional three-point support is provided for the platform against the bus bars in the top of the duct.

Circuit conductors through the hollow column 45 and are connected to the brackets 49 supporting the collector rollers 5i. A ground conductor 54 is electrically connected to member M'where it is ground through the wheels 32 to the body of the duct. Rubber bumper elements 55 are provided adjacent each end of the member 4| to minimize shock in contact with other trolleys or the ends of the duct. The upper surface of platform 67 is provided with a plurality of posts 56 upon which is supported a plate 51 having openings 58 therein for the contact rollers 5|. This plate 5? protects the circuit wires 53 and the surface of the platform 47 from any metallic dust or other foreign matters which might be deposited from the bus bars in the duct. It is noted that the platform 51 does not contact any current conducting parts so that metallic particles deposited thereon will not decrease the dielectric or creepage resistance of the path between the conducting parts on the carriage.

To prevent transverse rotation of the trolley within the duct, side thrust rollers 59 are provided. These are mounted on U-shaped brackets 5| rigidly secured to the sides of the member 4i and the rollers 59 bear against the side walls of the duct to prevent turning movement of the trolley.

The horizontal surfaces formed by brackets l8 and 59 above the bottom of the duct prevent vertical tilting of the trolley as is seen in Figure 9 and also prevent damage to the contact rollers and other parts due to a forcible jamming against bus bars when inserted through the gate '6. These surfaces, at one end of the entrance provided by the gate 4, are provided with slots 63 as shown in Figure 8. A polarizing bar 62 is provided adjacent one end of the trolley. This bar is of such width that it will not ordinarily pass the surfaces formed by the brackets i8 and 99. It is, therefore, necessary to have this bar positioned at the slot 63 in order to insert the V trolley into the duct. This polarizes the trolley and insures its insertion in the same directional relation to the duct at all times.

The springs 48 mounted adjacent to the single roller 5i as seen at the right-hand side of Figure 10 are only half as rigid as the two springs disposed beneath the opposite end of the platform. This results in twice the force being exerted at the last mentioned end of the platform and, as there are two rollers located there, the

53 extend upwardly resulting contact pressure on all three contact rollers will be substantially equalized.

Journaled to the U-shaped brackets ll are cooperating pairs of U-shaped brackets 64 to which is rigidly connected a controlling cabinet 65. The bottom of this cabinet is provided with a pair of brackets 66 connected together by a heavy pin 61 which forms a support for a hook or other tool support 68. Any desired circuit controlling instrumentality may be used within the cabinet 65. As herein illustrated, there is provided a fused switching device and a motor starter. The motor starter designated generally by numeral 69 at the left of Figure 12 may be of any conventional form. The fused switching device shown at the lower right in Figure 12 and in Figure 13 comprises an insulating block Ii carrying a plurality of pairs of spaced contact jaws 12. The side of the cabinet is provided with a door 13 which carries an insulating block 14 upon which are mounted contact blades 15 to each of which is connected a fuse clip 16 carrying a fuse 11. The door is provided with a handle element 18 having camming tips 19 adapted to project through cooperating openings in the cabinet wall. Opening of the door 13 by means of handle 18 will thus be seen to disengage blades 15 from the jaws l2 and to open the circuit through the switching elements.

In the open position, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 12 and in Figure 13, the fuses may be readily replaced. The circuit conductors 53 extend through column 45 into the cabinet 85 wherein they pass through the motor starter 69 and the switching unit described above and then from the bottom of the cabinet to a plug 80 adapted to be attached to a cooperating socket element connected to the individual tool.

If the tool is located at the side of the duct and the trolley is pulled, the cabinet 65 will rotate on the swivel connection between brackets 43 and 64 as shown in dotted lines. This free swiveling movement together with the flanges l8 and I9 and the side thrust rollers 59, permits the trolley to travel freely within the duct regardless of the direction of the pull from the portable tool to which it is connected.

Figures 14 and 15 illustrate alternative ways of connecting conductors to the bus bars within the duct. Figure 14 illustrates the connection to some intermediate point in the system. In this connection, the bridging strip 3| of Figures and 6 is replaced by a combined conductor lug and connector 8| as shown in dotted lines in Figure 14. This lug and connector comprises a straight portion conforming in general to the strip 3| having four spaced holes therein which receive the studs 32 and are rigidly connected to the ends of the bus bars. The connector 8| is also provided with an inclined portion having an opening in the end thereof into which the end of conductor 82 may be soldered. The small housing 28 is then replaced by a large housing 83 having a cover 84 permitting manipulation therein.

In Figure 15, the member 85 takes a slightly different form from that shown in Figure 14 by having an opening at one end which is connected to the adjacent end of the duct system in the same manner as another duct section would be. The enclosure 85 is provided with an openable cover 86 similar to cover 84 in Figure 14. In this construction a connector 8| similar to that shown in Figure 14 is used but which has been rotated longitudinally through 180 degrees so that the inclined portion now extends downward as illustrated, thus facilitating leading 01' the conductors from the unattached end of the enclosure.

While certain preferred embodiments of the invention have been specifically disclosed, it is understood that the invention is not limited thereto as many variations will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art and the invention is to be given its broadest possible interpretation within the terms of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a duct enclosing bus bars and adapted to support a current collector trolley in conducting relation to said bars and having a slot in a bottom wall thereof through which a portion of said trolley extends, tracks for trolley supporting wheels on said walls on either side of said slot, and surfaces supported by the side walls of the duct at a fixed distance above said track for limiting the vertical movement of said wheels.

2. In a duct enclosing bus bars and adapted to support a current collector trolley in conducting relation to said bars, a pair of vertically spaced, opposed trackways supported by said duct on either side of a longitudinal median plane, the space between said pairs being open to receive a portion of said trolley, the lower trackways being engaged by trolley supporting wheels to support the trolley for normal operation, the upper trackways restricting vertical movement of said trolley supporting wheels away from the lower trackways.

3. In a duct enclosing bus bars and adapted to support a current collector trolley in conducting relation to said bars and having a slot in a bottom wall thereof through which a portion of said trolley extends, tracks for trolley supporting wheels on said wall on either side of said slot, surfaces supported by the side at a fixed distance above said track for limiting the vertical movement of said wheels, entrance means including a removable portion said trackway, and polarizing means for said trolley including a slot in said surfaces adapted to pass a widened part of said trolley when inserted in correct position.

4. In a duct enclosing bus bars and adapted to support a current collector trolley in conducting relation to said bars, surfaces in said duct providing tracks for trolley supporting wheels, means supported by the duct for limiting the movement of said wheels upward from said track surfaces, entrance means for said trolley including removable portions of said surfaces, and polarizing means for said trolley including cut-out portion in said first mentioned means adapted to pass a widened portion of said trolley when inserted in correct position.

5. A sectional trolley duct composed of duct sections having sections of bus bar therein, means at the adjacent ends of duct sections transverse of the duct run receiving bolts parallel to the duct run for joining the duct sections and for hanging them to fixed structure, means at the adjacent ends of duct sections for connecting the bus bar ends and accessible through openings in a wall of the duct, the latter openings providing means for admitting cables into the interior of the duct at the junctures to be connected to the bus bars at their junctures, and boxes built over such openings.

6. A sectional trolley duct composed of duct sections having sections of bus bar therein and walls of the duct a trolley receiving slot in the bottom wall thereof, means at the adjacent ends of duct sections 'transverse of the duct run receiving bolts parallel on the top wall of the duct opposite the slotted bottom wall thereof.

'1. A sectional trolley duct composed of duct sections having sections of bus bar therein, means at the adjacent ends of duct sections transverse of the duct run receiving bolts parallel to the duct run for joining the duct sections and for hanging them to fixed structure, means at the adjacent ends of duct sections for connecting the bus bar ends and accessible through openings in a wall of the duct, the latter openings providing means for admitting cables into the interior of the duct at the junctures to be connected to the bus bars at their junctures, and boxes built over such openings, the boxes being closed normally but having movable covers which may be opened to provide access into the interiors of the boxes and the duct.

8. A sectional trolley duct composed of duct sections having sections of bus bar therein, means at the adjacent ends of duct sections transverse of the duct run receiving bolts parallel to the duct run for joining the duct sections and for hanging them to fixed structure, means at the adjacent ends of duct sections for connecting the bus bar ends and accessible through openings in a wall of the duct, the latter openings providing means for admitting cables into the interior of the duct at the junctures to be connected to the bus bars at their junctures, and movable covers normally closing said openings but openable to provide access into the duct through the openings.

9. A sectional trolley duct composed of duct sections having sections of bus bar therein, means at the adjacent ends of duct sections transverse of the duct run receiving bolts parallel to the duct run for joining the duct sections and for hanging them to fixed structure, means at the adjacent ends of duct sections for connecting the bus bar ends and accessible through openings in a wall of the duct, the latter openings providing means for admitting cables into the interior of the duct at the junctures to be connected to the bus bars at their junctures, and movable covers on the top wall of the duct opposite the slotted bottom wall thereof.

10. A trolley duct including two parallel walls, a slotted track-providing wall connecting them, and means within the duct for restraining movement of the rollers from the tracks provided by the interior surface of the slotted wall comprising parts secured to the first mentioned two walls and disposed adjacent and parallel to and spaced from the tracks a distance substantially equal to the diameters of the rollers, and projecting towards each other from the first mentioned two walls.

11. A trolley duct including two parallel walls, a slotted track-providing wall connecting them, and means within the duct for restraining movement of rollers from the tracks provided by the interior surface of the slotted wall'comprising parts of the first mentioned two walls which are disposed adjacent and parallel to and spaced from the tracks a distance substantially equal to the diameters of the rollers and which are on opposite sides of the slot.

JOHN G. JACKSON. RALPH H. KINGDON. 

